The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-12-18
RAILROAD FINISHED.
III All
The California & Oregon
Completed.
DRIVING OF THE LAST SPIKE
Representing Twenty.one Years of
Constant Kailrosd Construction
Other News,
Driving the Last Spike
fIfI T7-~-t.EI

California q OregOn hallway was com
pie ted to-day. This event represent
twenty-one years of railroad construc.
ton almost steadily pushed through
The project of surmounting the noun
tain ranges Of northern California anG
southern Oregon forced stoppages, an6
created Tor period the impression thai
this latest, and IN many res ,ects mosi
] important of the national highways
might never be completed. It's accom-
plishment, undoubtedly, is regarded By
the commercial circles of the Pacific
Coast as the most important in IT'S
significance, since the completion of the
first overland railway system, in May,
1869. 1t affords for the first time an
all-rail communication between the
cities Of the Pacific from the southern
to the northern cities of the Union,
and places under the control of one
railway corporation an unbroken line
from New Orleans to Portland, Oregon,
a distance of 1900 miles. Its projectors
contend for the system, from q strate-
getic standpoint, that this completion
of the northern link is of vital import
defensive meaEure-in case of war and
rapid concentration of troops.
| Yesterday afternoon, q special train
left San Francisco. carrying Charles
Crocker as chief representative of the
Southern Pacific system, Mr.. William
H. Mills and Mr.. Richard Koehler, also
of that company; the train being under
| the personal direction of Mr.. J. A. Fill
more, general superintendent OF the
Southern Pacific Railway. The train
consisted of eight coaches and three
baggage and dining cabs. Among
other represent ative gentlemen on
board were: Mayor Gregong, of Sacra.
mento; Mayor Hadley, of San Diego;
Mayor Davis. of Oakland; Hon.
Horace Davis. Colonel c. s.
Diehl, Col. John Pirish, Mr.. 6. K.
Fitch, Hon, Frank NJ. Pixley, Mr..
George W. Chesley. Mr.. George w.
Sanderson and Mr.. William Garrett.
The list of the invited also included a
representative of the California State
board of trade, and other leading COM
mercial bodies of California. Five sleep
ing cars in addition was filed with ex-
cursIonistS sYailiug themselves of the
opportunity OF making the first ascent
OF Siskiyen Mountains in a railway car
san FRANCISCO, December 17.-Simul
taneously with the departure of the
California contingent for the north, the
train left Portland for the south con-
tanning the Governor and distin-
guished party of officials and invited
guests from the State of Oregon.
The large crowds waiting at Sacra-
mento, MarYsville, Chico, Tehama and
Red Bluff, to greet the California train
attested the interest felt in the event.
The cheering multitude at Sacramento
caused Mr.. Charles Croker t. appear,
who said that when, in 1870, the pro-
iect of the Cent? al Pacific was out
lined, it was said that he and his con-
frees might be able to sell needles
and hardware. but they could never
run q railroad across the Sierra Mount
aims. We were not only able to do 1t,
| remarked Mr.. Croaker, but are about
| to celebrate greater feat in railrosding.
Leaving Redoing for the north, the
| heavy train was drawn up the steep
| approaches to the mountains by three
powerful engines, reaching Sisson at
o'clock this morning, 1000 feet above
/ the sea level, at the base of Mt. Shasta,
which raises 10, 400 feet above the Sisson
altitude. The surrounding hills were
great white pyramid relieved
by dark patches of FIR and
pine trees. The train wound
around Great Butte descending the
Shasta Valley, where were revealed
views OF great scenic grandeur. At
| this point, the stupenGous character of
engiDe ering difficulties incompassipg
the Shasta range began to be revealed.
Ascending the Klamath range, the rail-
way forms loops, the track itself rising
III tiers. The road at one point ira
verses eighteen miles in accomplishing
81 air line of one third that distance.
Passing through the Shasta Valley, the
tempestuous mountain stream known
rs klamath river was crossed remindfal
of the lonely journeyings OF Fremont
and his small band of followers. when
this region formed part OF the Mexi-
can domain. The day was one remark
able for beauty, enhancing the delight
Of the excursionists on their run
through the mountains. Leaving tbs
Inc, the train ON entered Siskiyon,
Tunnel, piercing the mountain for
{, 800 feet, and passing thence into the
companion tunnel of ], 400 feet, the con-
struction of which delayed the COM
pletion OF the road for nearly TIVE years.
! At AS o'clock the train reached
Ashland, where the ceremony OF driving
the last spike was observed. II was
growing dark rapidly, but large crowd
was in waiting to witness the cert mon
les After the official representatives
of the two states had been introduced,
Mr.. Croker proceeded at once to the
point chosen and gave the magic three
blows. The ceremony occupied at
four minutes after clock. Mr.. William
Mills as representative of the StEts
board of trade of California, in
few words, il reduced as president of
the CAV, and mester of ceremonies,
HopSH Davis, representative CT the
municipality and chamber of commerce
of San Francisco, who said he would
not af'empt an address, bat simply to
state that the blows just struck had
fred the cannons in So" Francisco, and
that The circumstance binds California
Q d Oregon in bonds OF indissoiuble
umIy.'
Rev. f F. Strong OF Ashland then
n,nne prayer, and Governor Pennoyer,
of Oregon, was introduced. and spoke in
PERI as follows:
Eeprese 1tatires Of CaIitornia-We here